Following the start of the NHL’s 2025 free agency period, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Blood Treliving hinted at potential further roster moves after trading right winger Mitch Marner. Treliving acknowledged the team’s need to fill a top-six forward spot, which Marner’s departure left vacant.
Despite expecting no major signings in free agency, Toronto has made a notable trade by acquiring veteran center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenseman Morgan Rielly. However, this deal depends on both Kadri and Rielly agreeing to the trade due to their no-trade clauses. Flames GM Craig Conroy would also need to convince Rielly to join Calgary, especially since Calgary likely wants to add a playoff-ready, experienced defenseman who logs heavy minutes—a role Rielly could fill.
Kadri and Rielly’s salaries align closely, with Kadri earning $7 million annually for four years and Rielly making $7.5 million per year over five years. To balance the contract lengths, Treliving may need to include additional assets, possibly Toronto’s second-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028.
If completed, this trade would reshape Toronto’s roster, adding a second-line center and allowing John Tavares, recently re-signed, to shift to the wing. Toronto would then have a surplus of centers—Matthews, Kadri, Tavares, Nicholas Roy, Scott Laughton, and David Kampf—enabling the Leafs to trade or buy out some players, creating cap space to strengthen winger or defensive depth.
This trade represents a strategic move by Toronto to transform a positional weakness into a strength. Kadri’s return is warmly welcomed, especially given his recent Stanley Cup success with Colorado, which adds valuable playoff experience to the team.
Saying goodbye to cornerstone player and respected person Morgan Rielly will be tough for Leafs fans, but if the trade goes through and both teams can find better fits for their players, it could rejuvenate Rielly’s career. Treliving’s potential deal would be a well-timed and fitting move, fulfilling the Leafs’ desire to reshape their lineup by bringing Kadri back to a team he still considers home.
Fan Take: This trade signals a bold shift for the Maple Leafs, emphasizing the importance of strong center depth and playoff experience in building a contender. For hockey fans, it highlights the strategic nature of roster management in the salary cap era and could shift the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.
